Container for microphones or the like



Nov. 24, 1964 ss 3,158,260

CONTAINER FOR MICROPHONES OR THE LIKE Filed April 4, 1962 Ernst PLESSINVENTOR.

AGENT United States Patent 3,158,260 CQNTAINER FGR ,MlCRGkHGNES 6R TEELHKE Ernst Piess, Vienna, Austria, assignor to Akustische u.Kino-Geriite Gesellschatt nnhilh, Vienna, Austria, a

This invention relates to a package for microphones, particularly foramateur microphones for tape recorders, comprising an at least partlytransparent enclosure which accommodates the microphone.

Such packages have been used for a considerable time for a very widerange of articles. These packages consisted merely of a box, which wasat least partly made from transparent thermoplastic material. Inpackages for articles which consisted of a main article and accessories,the boxlike housings of transparent material were internally divided toprovide small compartments for accommodating the accessories receivedtherein. Such packages have been provided, for instance, for someexposure meters for amateur photographers. An elongated lower portion ofa box was divided by a transverse partition into a larger compartmentfor the exposure meter itself and a smaller compartment for the carryingchain secured to the meter. A cover of the usual shape and consistingalso of transparent material permits closing of the box.

Packages for amateur microphones consist in most cases of cartons orsometimes of plastic boxes similar to the packages for photographicexposure meters. The cable connected to the microphone is rolled up andaccommodated in the package besides the microphone.

In this package, which is used in most cases by the amateur also forstoring the microphone, the microphone is mostly rolled up randomly,generally becoming tangled. The wire can be disentangled only withdifliculty and often kinks are formed in the cable. ment will leadsooner or later to damage to the cable, which may fail just at adecisive moment.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate such defects and toprovide a package designed to enable an orderly accommodation of themicrophone cable and to serve also as an auxiliary support for themicrophone, if desired. The essential feature of the package accordingto the invention resides in that the base portion of the package, whichaccommodates the microphone, is similar to a bobbin having two parallelflanges and a central core, which has an opening in which the microphonecan be inserted whereas the microphone cable can be wound around thecore between the aforementioned flanges, the transparent cover of thepackage having side walls which close the space between the two flangeswhen the cover is in position.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in whichFIG. 1 is a perspective View of the base of a microphone packageembodying the present invention, with the microphone, cable and plugremoved;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the package of FIG. 1showing the cover thereof co-operating with the base;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified casewherein the cover member bears frictionally against the peripheries ofthe upper and lower flanges of the base;

FIG. 4 is another sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modifiedmicrophone package, with the microphone, cable and plug removed, whereinthe flanges or" Such treat- 3,l58,2fifl Patented Nov. 24, 1964 the basepart are provided with inwardly turned ridges for retaining themicrophone cable in the compartment formed between the two flanges, theclosed peripheral wall of the cover of this embodiment, as in theembodiment of FIG. 3, having a generatrix parallel to a line connectingcorresponding locations of the flange peripheries; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View through the base portion of amicrophone package with the cover removed showing the pivotal supportmember for maintaining the microphone in an elevated position and theaperture of the base plate, whereby the microphone can be lifted toshift the support member into its operable position.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the lower part or base of the packageconsists of a bobbinlike body and comprises two horizontal flanges 1 and2. These two flanges 1 and 2 extend outwardly from the upper and lowerperipheral edges of an annular core 3 Whose interior forms a compartment15 having a bottom plate 5. This compartment 15 is suitably designed toconform to the shape of the microphone, shown at 16 in FIG. 5, and maybe of irregular contour. In the drawing, the chamber is shown to be ofprismatic shape, for the sake of simplicity. A shot 6 serves for passingthe microphone cable 9 out of the central core 3. It is not essential todispose this slot in the position shown in FIG. 1. The position of theslot will depend on the design of the microphone because the cable may,alternatively, extend laterally out of the opening. When the microphonehas been inserted into the compartment 5, the microphone cable passedthrough the slots 6 is wound around the core 3 in the winding spaceprovided between the flanges 1 and 2. If the two flanges were closelyspaced, it would not be possible to accommodate the microphone plug ltl,which is generally much thicker than the microphone cable, in thewinding space for the cable. For this reason the upper flange 1 isformed at one edge, preferably at a corner, with a cutaway portion orrecess 7, the size of which corresponds to the dimensions of the plugit).

FIGS. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views showing dilferentembodiments of the package according to the invention. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2, the case has the configuration of a rectangular prism.To provide a stop for the cover, which consists suitably of transparentmaterial, when it is mounted on the base part of the pack-age, the lowerflange 2 of the bobbin projects beyond the upper flange 1 on all sidesapproximately by the wall thickness of the cover 4. Alternatively, thepackage may be designed as is shown in FIG. 3, namely, with oblique sideparts. The cover 4 has a top held elevated above the base 1-3 by theremovable engagement of the outer edges of flanges l and 2 with anintermediate zone and with the bottom edge of the downwardly divergingperipheral cover wall. In this case a stop for the cover is notessential for a stop as shown in FIG. 2 may be provided. Alternatively,the stop may be provided on the cover 4 to engage the upper flange 1. Ifthe stop is provided on the cover 4, the flanges in the embodiment shownin FIG. 2 may be of equal size. This may result in a simplification ofthe production.

In FIG. 2 the bobbin-shaped part of the package is assembled, e.g. bybonding, from separate pants, namely, the two flanges l, 2 and the core3. Where appropriate machinery is available the entire base part of thepackage consisting of the two flanges 1, 2 and the core 3 may be made inone piece.

An embodiment of the package according to the invention which isparticularly desirable and of pleasing appearance is shown in FIG. 4.The bottom flange 2 has an upturned rim 8, which serves for retainingthe cover 4 and reducing the size of the gap between the two plied inmost cases with the microphone proper.

flanges 1 and 2 to some extent so that at least during simple movementsof the bottom part of the case, such as placing it on or removing itfrom a support, the micro phone cable and the plug cannot fall out. Toassist this efiect, the upper flange 2 may also be provided with such arim portion 8', as is shown in the left-hand half of FIG. 4.

The material from which the parts of the package are made consistssuitably of thermoplastic material. In order to conceal the turns of themicrophone cable, which are in most cases irregular, the base part ofthe package, which accommodates the microphone and the cable with plug,is suitably made of non-transparent, colored material. On the otherhand, the cover 4 should enable a view of the packaged article, i.e.,the microphone, and for this reason is made from transparent material.

Some amateurs do not have a separate stand for the microphone. For thisreason many microphones are supplied with a small support, e.g., in theform of a base. The need for such a base is eliminated by the packageaccording to the invention it a hinged stay 11. (FIG. 5), which canpreferably be sunk in a wall part, is provided in the compartment 15 ofthe core 3. In this case the base plate 5 of the package constitutes asupport which has a high stability and enables a much more reliablemounting of the microphone 16 than the small base or stand sup- As shownin FIG. 5, the microphone 16 is movable in the compartment 15 between araised position (full lines) and a withdrawn position (dot-dash lines).The raising of the microphone into its full-line position is facilitatedby the provision of an aperture 17 in base plate 5.

In conclusion it may be stated that the package according to theinvention for microphones or the like has an extremely pleasingappearance, is most suitable for display and owing to the design of thebase part enables also a quick and simple packaging. Even an amateur whois compelled to stow away the microphone after each recording of soundis provided by the package according to the invention with an excellentdevice for the proper and protected keeping of his microphone. Thisdevice pro vides at the same time a captive holder, in which themicrophone can be arranged in position for use.

What I claim is:

1. A package comprising a microphone and an en closure therefor composedof a base and a cover; said base including an annular upright coreforming an up wardly open microphone-receiving compartment, a bottomplate for said compartment rigid with said core, a first flangeprojecting horizontally outwardly from the lower peripheral edge of saidcore in the plane of said base plate, and a second flange projectinghorizontally outwardly from the upper peripheral edge of said core for alesser distance than said first flange and defining therewith an annulargap, said core and upper flange being provided with a slotinterconnecting said compartment and said gap; said microphone restingon said bottom plate in said compartment and being provided with a cordpassing outwardly through said slot into said gap, the greater part ofsaid cord being wound about said core in said gap; said cover having adownwardly diverging peripheral wall removably engaging said base alongthe outer edges of said flanges, said peripheral wall having a bottomedge in contact with the outer edge of said first flange and having azone below its top in contact with the outer edge of said second flangewhereby said top is held elevated above said core and second flange.

2. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said microphone is movablebetween a withdrawn position on said plate and a raised position inwhich it projects up wardly from said compartment, said bottom platehaving an aperture facilitating the raising of said microphone from itswithdrawn position, said base being provided with hinged stay means forsupporting said microphone in its raised position.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,763,488 Titcomb June 10, 1930 2,000,681 Weller May 7, 1935 2,143,529White Ian. 10, 1939 2,503,833 Miller Apr. 11, 1950 2,667,966 Jepson of.a1. Feb. 2, 1954 2,763,957 Roberts Sept. 25, 1956 2,773,663 Beers Dec.11, 1956 2,825,767 Riedele March 4, 1958 2,996,178 Forrest Aug. 15, 19613,002,610 Granger Oct. 3, 1961 3,074,545 Lasher Jan. 22, 1963 FOREIGNPATENTS 711,144 Great Britain June 23, 1954 864,270 Great Britain Mar.29, 1961

1. A PACKAGE COMPRISING A MICROPHONE AND AN ENCLOSURE THEREFOR COMPOSED OF A BASE AND A COVER; SAID BASE INCLUDING AN ANNULAR UPRIGHT CORE FORMING AN UPWARDLY OPEN MICROPHONE-RECEIVING COMPARTMENT, A BOTTOM PLATE FOR SAID COMPARTMENT RIGID WITH SAID CORE, A FIRST FLANGE PROJECTING HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE LOWER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID CORE IN THE PLANE OF SAID BASE PLATE, AND A SECOND FLANGE PROJECTING HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE UPPER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID CORE FOR A LESSER DISTANCE THAN SAID FIRST FLANGE AND DEFINING THEREWITH AN ANNULAR GAP, SAID CORE AND UPPER FLANGE BEING PROVIDED WITH A SLOT INTERCONNECTING SAID COMPARTMENT AND SAID GAP; SAID MICROPHONE RESTING ON SAID BOTTOM PLATE IN SAID COMPARTMENT AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A CORD PASSING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID SLOT INTO SAID GAP, THE GREATER PART OF SAID CORD BEING WOUND ABOUT SAID CORE IN SAID GAP; SAID COVER HAVING A DOWNWARDLY DIVERGING PERIPHERAL WALL REMOVABLY ENGAGING SAID BASE ALONG THE OUTER EDGES OF SAID FLANGES, SAID PERIPHERAL WALL HAVING A BOTTOM EDGE IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID FIRST FLANGE AND HAVING A ZONE BELOW ITS TOP IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID SECOND FLANGE WHEREBY SAID TOP IS HELD ELEVATED ABOVE SAID CORE AND SECOND FLANGE. 